Oman Achieves Historic All-Spin Bowling Feat Against Namibia in ODI

Oman made cricket history by becoming the first team to bowl out an opponent without using seamers during a One Day International match, dismissing Namibia for 96 runs. This match, part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, took place at Al Amerat and featured a strong bowling performance from Shakeel Ahmed. Oman’s achievement underscores their innovative and effective use of spin in professional cricket.

In a historic clash against Namibia at Al Amerat, Oman achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first team to bowl out another side without deploying any seam bowlers in a One Day International (ODI) match. Shakeel Ahmed’s exceptional bowling performance, with figures of 4 wickets for 25 runs, was instrumental in dismissing Namibia for a mere 96 runs during an ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter.

After facing significant early trouble at 19-4, Namibia managed to stabilize their innings thanks to Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton’s contribution of 30 runs. On the other hand, Oman’s openers, Aamir Kaleem and Jatinder Singh, provided a solid foundation with a partnership of 42 runs before Gerhard Erasmus triggered a batting collapse by taking 5 wickets for 34 runs. Despite being reduced to 87-8, Oman successfully reached the target without losing another wicket.

Remarkably, Oman’s bowling strategy constituted solely of spin, marking the longest innings without a seam over in a decided ODI. This accomplishment is unique in men’s ODIs, as the previous longest such innings from the USA included just 5.2 overs of spin-only bowling against Nepal. Notably, the only other recorded instances of spin-only bowling in ODIs were in women’s cricket, both involving unsuccessful attempts to defend totals below 100 runs.

This event serves as the second noteworthy occasion for an all-spin bowling exercise in white-ball cricket, following the Paarl Royals’ recent achievement of employing only spinners for all 20 overs in a match during the SA20 tournament. The details of the spin-only innings in decided ODIs highlight the exceptional nature of Omans performance and their innovative approach to bowling.

Below are notable spin-only innings in decided ODIs:
– Oman Men: 96 all out in 33.1 overs against Namibia Men at Al Amerat, 2025.
– Bangladesh Women: 98-4 in 23.5 overs against Australia Women at Mirpur, 2024.
– Pakistan Women: 70-3 in 22.3 overs against India Women at P Sara Oval, 2017.
– USA Men: 36-2 in 5.2 overs against Nepal Men at Kirtipur, 2020.

In conclusion, Oman has set a record in ODI history by successfully bowling out Namibia relying entirely on spin bowling, without the use of seamers. Their achievement not only highlights their skillful application of spin bowling but also places them among the unique records in both men’s and women’s cricket. The match ultimately emphasized the evolving dynamics within the sport, showcasing how strategic decisions can lead to historic milestones.

Original Source: www.wisden.com